Exclusive:Scots Labour MP urges party not to block Burnham despite fears of nightmare for Scottish Labour
Brian Leishman praised Mr Burnham while others are fearful of the Holyrood election impact
A Scottish Labour MP have urged the party not to block Andy Burnham from standing for the House of Commons as allies of the Prime Minister launched a furious campaign to stop a potential leadership challenge.
Brian Leishman said he “would like to think that the National Executive Committee sees the qualities that Andy Burnham has undoubtedly got”.
The Alloa and Grangemouth MP said he “would like to see the Parliamentary Labour Party as strong as possible” and that Mr Burnham would “bring an awful lot of qualities”.
Greater Manchester Mayor Mr Burnham may have a route back to the Commons after former Labour minister Andrew Gwynne confirmed he is standing down as an MP.
But Mr Burnham could be blocked by Labour’s National Executive Committee (NEC), which would need to give him approval to make the shortlist of candidates to represent the party for the Gorton and Denton by-election.
Allies of Sir Keir Starmer have suggested they will block Mr Burnham from standing because he is a threat to the Prime Minister’s leadership.
Mr Leishman said: “Andy Burnham is an immensely popular and talented politician. His record in Manchester speaks for itself.
“He's been a huge success, and I would like to see the Parliamentary Labour Party as strong as possible.
"There's no doubt about it, Andy Burnham would bring an awful lot of qualities to the Parliamentary Labour Party, should he be selected and should he win.
"We need to see what happens in regards of the NEC selection, but I would like to think that NEC sees the qualities that Andy Burnham has undoubtedly got, and the skills that he would bring to Parliament."
Another MP added: "I think it should be up to the local Labour Party to decide who is their candidate."
But other Scots MPs have warned that Mr Burnham standing in the by-election would be “the worst thing that could happen to Scottish Labour”.
Some of the Scottish Labour group warned that the move would “create a psychodrama during the Scottish Parliament election” and blasted it as “an ego-led exercise”.
One warned that sparking a Greater Manchester mayoral by-election would take up resources and “Scottish Labour that will pay the price.”
Another said it would distract from “the SNP’s record in office” but added that the Scottish Labour group was “united” in opposition.
A third labelled Mr Burnham standing as “utter s****”.
Mr Gwynne - who was elected as a Labour MP - was suspended in 2025 over offensive messages in a WhatsApp group.
He said he is standing down because he had suffered "significant ill health" and had been told by his GP that it wasn't safe for him to return to work as an MP
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One Labour MP said: “Andy Burnham creating a psychodrama during the Scottish parliament election is the worst thing that could happen.
“It would be wasted energy not talking about the Scottish Government’s record. The National Executive Committee won’t approve it. We would have to spend half a million quid on a by-election in Greater Manchester.
“This is money and resources being taken away from the election campaign north of the border.
“It is the worst thing which could happen to Scottish Labour. Any time there are column inches that are not about the SNP’s record in office is a waste.
“The Scottish Labour group rarely speaks as one but this is an issue which we all agree upon.”
Another MP added: “It is frankly incredulous that this is even being contemplated.
“At a moment when the party should be utterly focused on the critical elections in Scotland and Wales in May, the idea that Labour could be dragged into a wholly unnecessary Mayoral by-election is baffling.
“It risks becoming a self-inflicted psychodrama driven by personal ambition rather than political judgement. Party resources are finite.
“If they are diverted to indulge an ego-led exercise elsewhere, it is Scottish Labour that will pay the price.”
A third MP blasted it as an “egotistical, nonsensical waste of time and just a distraction.”
They said: “No one should stand for Parliament with the only purpose being to be leader.
“He probably doesn't get selected. Maybe doesn't win and if he does the Parliamentary Labour Party isn't asking for him to come and save us. Utter s****”
Mr Burnham has stood for the Labour leadership twice - in 2010 and 2015.
The first time he was beaten by Ed Miliband and only won 8.7 per cent of the vote.
On the second occasion he finished second behind Jeremy Corbyn, with 19 per cent.
He has been the Mayor of Greater Manchester since 2017. He served in Gordon Brown’s cabinet between 2007 and 2010.
The Labour Party was approached for comment.
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